NCJ Number
47708
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS FROM STUDIES OF CITIZEN DISPUTES AND POLICE CONFLICT-MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN NEW YORK, N.Y., AND NORWALK, CONN., ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE NEW YORK STUDY INVOLVED THE ACTIVITIES OF A SPECIALLY TRAINED FAMILY CRISIS UNIT IN WEST HARLEM. DURING A 22-MONTH DEMONSTRATION, THE UNIT HANDLED 1,388 DISTURBANCES INVOLVING 962 FAMILIES. THERE WERE NO HOMICIDES IN ANY OF THE FAMILIES AND NO INJURIES TO OFFICERS. ARRESTS FOR ASSAULT WENT DOWN, AND CITIZEN CONFIDENCE IN POLICE IMPROVED. IN THE NORWALK STUDY, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN A MIDDLE-CLASS, PREDOMINANTLY WHITE COMMUNITY, POLICE OFFICERS DEVELOPED THEIR OWN TRAINING PROGRAM BASED ON CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES EMPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY BY OFFICERS IN HANDLING DISPUTES BETWEEN STRANGERS AND ACQUAINTANCES AS WELL AS RELATIVES. THE MAJOR OBSERVATION FROM BOTH STUDIES WAS THE PREDOMINANTLY INTRARACIAL NATURE OF INTERPERSONAL DISPUTES: WHITES FIGHT WITH WHITES, BLACKS WITH BLACKS. A RELATED FINDING IS THAT AN INTERRACIAL DISPUTE MANAGED BY POLICE IS LESS LIKELY TO RESULT IN ASSAULTIVENESS THAN IS A DISPUTE BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE SAME RACE. OTHER FINDINGS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: MOST DISPUTES ARE NOT AS ASSAULTIVE AS MANY, INCLUDING THE POLICE, TEND TO ASSUME (ONLY 36 PERCENT OF THE WEST HARLEM CASES INVOLVED AN ACTUAL PHYSICAL ASSAULT); DISPUTES ARE CAUSED BY A WIDE VARIETY OF PROBLEMS; FAMILIES TEND TO REPEAT ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIOR; AND POLICE RARELY RESORT TO PHYSICAL FORCE IN DEALING WITH FAMILY DISPUTES. THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT 'ACTION RESEARCH,' SUCH AS THAT CONDUCTED IN WEST HARLEM AND NORWALK, CAN OFFER TO MAKING POLICE INTERVENTION IN CITIZEN DISPUTES LESS DANGEROUS ARE NOTED. (LKM)